Work begins to upgrade London Waterloo station

NETWORK RAIL (NR) has begun work to increase capacity at London Waterloo station, as part of the £800m Waterloo and South West upgrade, which will enable the station to accommodate 45,000 extra passengers in the morning and evening peaks.

For the next three and a half weeks, 10 of the station’s 19 platforms will be closed to allow the work to take place, which includes extensions to platforms 1-4, and the modification of platforms 5-8, so train length can be increased from eight to 10 cars from December.

During the works, the former Waterloo Eurostar International Terminal will be temporarily reopened to ease pressure on the main station.

The upgrade aims to provide 30% more space for passengers by December 2018.

The work to be completed by December 2018 includes:

• five more platforms at Waterloo, through reconstruction of the former Waterloo International Terminal

• longer platforms at a number of the stations on the Reading line

• 30 brand new trains, providing 150 extra cars, which will run between London Waterloo and Windsor & Eton Riverside

• new technology to improve efficiency, and

• improvements to depots and maintenance facilities.

This month’s work comprises the installation of new track on the approaches to platforms 1-8, the rebuilding and realignment at the far ends of platforms 5-8, and providing access for the required machinery to carry out the work.